Facebook to launch premium TV shows next month: Report

Facebook has already greenlit a virtual reality dating show, in which people will be made to go on their first dates in VR before actually meeting in person.

Facebook, in a big push in to television, is gearing to launch about two dozen new shows mid-June. According to a report in Business Insider, the social media giant is working on shows in two different tiers – long, big-budget shows similar to Netflix’s ‘House of Cards’ as well as shorter 5-10 minutes shows that could also feature in Facebook’s new video tab. The new video tab is slated to roll out eventually on Facebook app.

Facebook has already greenlit a virtual reality (VR) dating show, in which people will be made to go on their first dates in VR before actually meeting in person. The report further states that Facebook will focus on teen-centric shows as the company sees rival Snapchat as one of its main competitors in this space. Snapchat continues to attract young users thanks to its youth-centric show deals for Discover section.

“Facebook has tapped A-list celebrities to star in some of the shows, according to multiple people briefed on the plans,” read the Business Insider report. Another category that the social media giant is actively looking into is sports. Facebook reportedly has had talks with MLB as well.

Facebook will monetize its new premium service via advertisements that it’ll play in between videos, which will boost revenue, but with lower margins. With 1.2 billion global users on its platform, the company sees video content as an opportunity to tie-up with more advertisers. The social media giant has already started to test Ad Breaks in on-demand as well as live videos on Facebook.

Clearly, Facebook plans to move ahead with video content as it the major focus. CEO Mark Zuckerberg, in company’s Q1 earnings call, said that he has been doubling down on investment in video, predicting that the news feed will eventually be mostly video.

 

NEW PASSPORT RULES

The Ministry of External Affairs just recently announced a new set of rules for applying for a passport. And we’ve summarized some of the major changes that these new rules have bought in.

• DOCUMENTATION FOR PROOF OF BIRTH

As per the earlier rules, submitting a birth certificate was compulsory for all applicants born on/after 26^th January 1989. But the new rules have bought in a relaxation in this regards. Now, any of the following documents containing the DOB of the applicant will suffice:

• Birth Certificate (BC) issued by the Registrar of births and deaths or the Municipal Corporation or any other prescribed authority whosoever has been empowered under the Registration of Birth & Deaths Act, 1969 to register the birth of a child born in India
• Transfer/school leaving/matriculation certificate issued by the school last attended/recognized educational board
• PAN card
• Aadhar card/E-aadhar
• Copy of the extract of the service record of the applicant (only in respect of Government servants) or the pay pension order (in respect of retired government servants), duly attested/certified by the officer/in-charge of the administration of the concerned ministry/department of the applicant
• Driving license
• Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC) issued by the Election Commission of India
• Policy bond issued by the public life insurance corporations/companies

• DETAILS OF PARENT/LEGAL GUARDIAN:

In a welcome move, the new passport rules has done away with the mandate requiring names of both parents at the time of application. An applicant now only needs to provide the name of either one of the parents or the legal guardian. This makes it easier for children with single parents or orphans to apply for a passport. Provisions have also been made for spiritually oriented people (Sadhus/Sanyasis) who can now mention the name of their spiritual leader instead of their biological parents.

• ANNEXES

The total number of annexes has been bought down from 15 to 9. Annexes A, C, D, E, J, and K have been removed and some of them have also been merged. Lesser annexes means less trouble for you to collate documentation.

• ATTESTATION

While all annexes needed attestation from a Notary/Executive Magistrate/First Class Judicial Magistrate previously, henceforth all these annexes can now be in the form of a self-declaration from the applicant on plain paper. This will spare you all the running around for attestation that you would have had to do previously.

• MARRIED/DIVORCED PERSONS:

The need for a marriage certificate has been discontinued (along with annexure K). Also, in case of a divorce the applicant will not be required to provide the name of their spouse. This is another interesting change that has been made taking into consideration changing societal norms.

• WORK RELATED URGENT PASSPORTS:
  For urgent passports, if a government employee is unable to procure the NOC (no objection certificate) or identity certificate from their employers, they can submit a self-declaration stating that they have given a prior intimation letter to their employer informing that they are applying for an ordinary passport to a passport issuing authority.

To view the press release from the Ministry of External Affairs regarding the new passport rules, you can visit their website which has the complete details.

Overall, this move is set to make the application process easier and hassle-free for everyone. A welcome move, we say!

So don’t use your lack of passport as an excuse not to travel anymore. Apply for one now, and get going. Don’t forget to visit our website to get insured before you leave on your next adventure!

I Have Been Inspired By James Bond’s Films- Nawazuddin Siddiqui

Ace actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui has been promoting his forthcoming film ‘Babumoshai Bandookbaaz’ extensively across the country. The actor was in the capital recently to spread the word about the film among the audience and interact with the media. While talking about the film the actor said that since childhood he has been inspired by James Bond’s films.

Rajinikanth in politics: Was Trichy rally with fans a trial run for actor?

Is Rajinikanth all set to join politics?

Rajinikanth joining politics? The question is now not "if" but "when," especially after the rally attended by around 10,000 of his fans in Trichy on Sunday, August 20.

If the fan support was not enough, Gandhian politician Tamilaruvi Manian all but declared the platforms and issues on which the Superstar could fight elections.

It now remains to be seen how far his political career goes: Many film personalities from South India in general and Tamil Nadu, in particular, have tested political waters with varying degrees of success.

While the likes of MG Ramachandran and her protege Jayalalithaa of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) have gone on to become chief ministers of Tami Nadu, others like Vijayakanth and T Rajender have not tasted success to that extent.

Trial run in Trichy?

However, given Rajinikanth's stature as a star and the response to the Trichy rally on Sunday, the actor rest assured of a good and strong run in politics.

In picture: A fan of Rajinikanth waves a flag at a public
 meeting for the star in Trichy, Tamil Nadu, on Sunday, August 20, 2017.

The public meeting in Trichy had ostensibly been called for fans to urge their favourite film-star to join politics. While Rajinikanth has not been active in politics, he has indeed skirted with it. His statement against Jayalalithaa in 1996 is believed to have helped a coalition of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) come to power.

However, Sunday was different: Instead of any kind of opposition to any government scheme, Rajinikanth is believed to have given his fans a glimpse of the issues he can be expected to fight for.

Lawyer and social activist Tamilaruvi Manian told the fans at the meeting: "I will explain Rajini's brand of politics and his agenda and take back fans' expectations to Rajini."

He also said that Rajinikanth "wants to bring about inter-linking of rivers in south India, transparent good governance, and a corruption-free state."

A long-time coming

Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan — two of the biggest stars in Kollywood, the Tamil film industry — have both been plagued by politics and politicians, which has from time to time affected the earnings of their films.

Kamal Hassan (Left) and Rajinikanth (right)Twitter

While both have steered clear of joining politics, they have indeed made some political statements. But more recently, they got tongues wagging when they attended a DMK jubilee together and spoke on some topics.

Hints of Rajinikanth's entry into politics have been coming since May, and have been met with opposition from various quarters, primarily on the fact that he was born Maharashtrian — his real name is Shivaji Gaekwad.

You must be tired of being fooled by the fake electronic gadgets of top brands in the market. As soon as a top gadget brand launches its new product, the copycats also launch their faked items. Sometimes, they are made so well that you just can’t recognize them.

Here are few tips for you all:

1. Pay attention to manufacturing:

The ones who design fake products often tend to neglect the packaging of the product. Hence, they can be easily caught on this demerit.

1. See if there is a user manual:

The international brands print their user manual in English language and the copycats do it the other way. So, if you can’t read the user manual of a product, it might be a fake one.

1. What kind of material is used:

Top brands never try to save on material because their material is their identity, unlike the copycats.

1. You can notice the fonts as well:

Just like material, a logo is also the face of the company and the top brands never miss on their patented fonts. However, the important factor can be lacked by the ones who make fake products.

1. The charger pin:

All the top brands make the chargers according to the socket designs of a particular country. It is not the case with the chargers of the fake products.

1. The size of the charging wire:

In case of fake products, the wire sits smoothly if it is left freely. On the other hand, the wire of a fake product makes different angles and never sits freely and smoothly. Also, the charging pin can be of inappropriate sizes. It happens quite often that the size of the plus doesn’t match the size of the socket. And it happens only in the case when you have bought a fake product.

Wire quality is one of the most obvious signs of a counterfeit product. In the original, a plugged-in cable will sit firmly and evenly, while in a fake you’ll see incorrect angles and loose parts. Sometimes the length of a plug doesn’t coincide with the depth of the socket.

Also, pay attention to the quality of the insulation and the symbols on it. The wire should be flexible and even-colored, while the markings mustn’t be erasable.

Hero Xtreme 200S may finally launch in India; find out when

Hero MotoCorp had showcased sportbike Xtreme 200S in India at the Auto Expo 2016 and the motor enthusiasts have been waiting for its launch in the country since then. It looks like the premium motorcycle from the house of Hero could finally be on sale in the country soon. 

Hero Xtreme 200S

A report of Gaadiwaadi says that Hero Xtreme 200S may be launched in the country by the end of this fiscal year. The motorcycle has been associated with several launch dates since its debut, but the company has not revealed any launch timeframe for the Hero Xtreme 200S so far.

"We are working on further bolstering our premium product portfolio with bikes such as the Xtreme 200S. We displayed our intent at the Auto Expo when we showcased a host of new products, including an electric scooter," Pawan Munjal of Hero MotoCorp had said.

To be pitted against Bajaj Pulsar NS200, KTM 200 Duke and TVS Apache RTR 200 4V, Xtreme 200S is expected to be powered by an air-cooled, single cylinder, 4-stroke 200cc engine that can churn out a maximum power of 18.5bhp at 8,500rpm and peak torque of 17.2Nm at 6,000rpm.

The mill is expected to come mated to a five-speed gearbox and is likely to deliver a fuel efficiency of 45kmpl. It is rumoured that Xtreme 200S will also feature ABS in India, but the feature could come as optional. 

Built around single down tube frame, Xtreme 200S is also likely to get split grab handles, chunky silencer, LED tail lamp and an analog-digital meter console. Other expected featuimg include conventional fork and monoshock rear suspension, disc brakes at both ends and multi-spoke alloy wheels. 

Hero Xtreme 200S is likely to get a price tag of around Rs 1.2 lakh for the ABS version.

Source: GaadiWaadi

Google Android O releasing August 21: Roundup of top features, full list of compatible devices

 

Top 7 biggest features of Android O

Google is all set to launch its highly-anticipated mobile operating system 'Android O' aka 'Android 8.0' at a media event in New York City on Monday, August 21.

The Android O launch event will coincide with the equally exciting total solar eclipse in the US. Google has scheduled the live streaming of the event to kick off precisely at 2:40pm EST or 12:10am IST.

Google Android O releasing August 21:
 Roundup of top features,
full list of compatible devicesGoogle

There has been a spate of leaks and rumours surrounding the possible nickname for Google's most eagerly-awaited Android update in recent times, which has been widely touted as 'Android Oreo' after the popular dessert name. Rumour mongers are even contemplating names such as 'Octopus' and 'Oatmeal Cookie' based on the recently leaked filenames from Google's Android O launch reveal video.

Prolific tipster Evan Blass has tipped that Android O will indeed be nicknamed as Android Oreo in his recent tweet. However, we need to wait and see if Google sticks to its traditional naming convention that's based on sweet names.

With so much being talked about Android O, we bring you the consolidated list of confirmed features that you will see in the final version. Some of the key improvements include enhanced notifications, better audio and connectivity, improved battery life, faster boot time, and smarter text selection.

Here is the roundup of the exciting new features, device compatibility and more:

Android O: Roundup of top features

Adaptive and redesigned icons

Users can enjoy better customisation options built into the user interface for creating icons in different shapes to suit their taste, thanks to adaptive and redesigned icons in Android O.

Rounded square-shaped icons have substituted the Cylinder-shaped ones to give a better feel and look to the interface. One can also add specific animated actions for each icon to represent an action.

Better audio and connectivity

Android O offers advanced level of Bluetooth audio codecs for enhanced performance even with low-latency audio, such as the LDAC Codec and the native AAudio technology.

Picture in Picture (PiP) mode

Enjoy superior multitasking capability using the PiP mode which enables you to watch some YouTube video while simultaneously working on an app.

You can even minimise the app window after resizing the video window using the PiP feature or keep the video paused until you have finished working with the app and then resume the playback with a simple click on it. That's quite a convenient option for power-hungry users.

Background app usage limits

This feature works on eliminating the usage of data and battery resources by background apps. Thus, it helps in conserving the battery life for extended periods of time.

Typical examples include location updates and background services that consume unnecessary resources of your phone and drain the battery quickly. Just disable background apps and processes to fix this problem.

Enhanced notification interface

All unread notifications will appear as a dot on the individual app icons whenever there is a new notification that needs your undivided attention. Just tap and hold on the notification message to get a pop-up interface, which will reveal the details.

New emojis

Explore a whole new bunch of new emojis with Android O release, which have been redesigned along the lines of iOS to give you more rounded faces instead of blob faces. Check out some new options such as mermaid, fairy, wizard and giraffe to suit your taste.

Faster boot time

Enjoy the privilege of faster boot times regardless of the hardware configuration installed on your handset as Google has optimised the boot times in Android O. So, you will invariably experience faster app load times, smoother operation and fewer lags than ever while working on resource-hungry apps.

Android O availability

Android O is expected to make its debut release on Google Pixel and Nexus devices, followed by the OEM release on third-party devices. Here is the full list of devices that are destined to receive the Android O update later this summer:

Full list of Android O compatible devices

Google Pixel and Nexus devices

• Google Pixel
• Google Pixel XL
• Nexus 5X
• Nexus 6P
• Pixel 2

Motorola

• Moto Z-Droid
• Moto Z Play
• Moto Z
• Moto Z Play Droid
• Z2 Play
• Moto Z2 Force
• Moto G4
• Moto G5 Plus
• Moto G5
• Moto G4 Plus

Sony

• Sony Xperia X Performance
• Sony Xperia XZ
• Sony Xperia XZs
• Sony Xperia XZ Premium
• Sony Xperia X
• Sony Xperia X Compact
• Sony Xperia XA1
• Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
• Sony Xperia L1

Samsung

As PC-Tablet reports, here is the tentative list of smartphones along with their model numbers that are likely to receive Android 8.0 Oreo later this year.

• Samsung Galaxy S8 (G950F, G950W)
• Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus (G955, G955FD)
• Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge (G935F, G935FD, G935W8)
• Samsung Galaxy S7 (G930FD, G930F, G930, G930W8)
• Samsung Galaxy Note FE.Galaxy A3 (2017)(A320F)
• Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)(A520F)
• Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)(A720F, A720DS)
• Samsung Galaxy A8 (2017) (A810F, A810DS)
• Samsung Galaxy C9 Pro Samsung Galaxy J7v
• Samsung Galaxy J7 Max (2017)
• Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro (2017)
• Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime
• Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016)(SM-A9100)
• Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016)(A710F, A710DS)
• Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016)(A510F, A510F)
• Samsung Galaxy A8 (2016)(A810F, A810DS)

Oneplus

• OnePlus 5
• OnePlus 3T
• OnePlus 3

Asus

• Zenfone 4
• Zenfone 4 Pro
• Zenfone 4 Selfie
• Zenfone 4 Selfie Pro
• Zenfone 4 Max
• Zenfone 4 Max
• Zenfone 3 5.2-inch (ZE520KL)
• Zenfone 3 5.5-inch (ZE552KL)
• Zenfone 3 Ultra
• Zenfone 3 Deluxe
• Zenfone 3 Max
• Zenfone 3s Max
• Zenfone 3 Laser
• Zenfone 3 Zoom aka Zoom S (in Asia)
• Zenfone AR